A4. Lessons from the Classroom

A4. Lessons from the Classroom

NAME ______

Assignment 4 Lessons From the Classroom

Assessment Criteria for Assignment:

Candidates can demonstrate their learning by:

• noting their own teaching strengths and weaknesses in different situations in light of feedback from learners, teachers and teacher educators
• identifying which ELT areas of knowledge and skills they need further development in
• describing in a specific way how they might develop their ELT knowledge and skills beyond the course
• using written language that is clear, accurate and appropriate to the task

Part A: Reflections on Classroom Teaching

In the first two weeks of the course you are exposed to adults learning and teaching languages in three situations: your students learning from you, students learning from your peers and students learning from experienced teachers (tutors) in live and video demonstration lessons.

Consider the above situations and:

• Identify at least 2 successful aspects of your teaching and discuss why these were successful. Illustrate these with specific examples of where you did it well and how this benefitted your learners.
• Identify at least 3 aspects of your teaching that you would like to improve and suggest improvements. These suggestions for improvement should come from your observations of other teachers – your colleagues, trainers, videos. Be very specific about where you saw this done well and how working on it would be beneficial for your learners.

Your answer does not need to be written in a formal style, first person is fine. Use the above points as sub-headings to organize your answer. Support your observations with practical examples wherever possible. State who the teachers were, what they did that was effective and why those activities / techniques were successful.

Part B: Future Development

• Discuss how you plan to develop your ELT knowledge and skills after the course. Provide at least three specific ideas (e.g. arrange to watch experienced colleagues, read published matter on developing listening skills). Specify how these strategies will benefit you.

750 - 1000 words. Please state your word count at the end of your assignment.

Here’s an outline that we recommend you follow.

Lessons From the Classroom Assignment

Part A

Paragraph 1: Strength #1

Identify the strength

Say why it is beneficial to your students or how it helps your teaching.

Give a specific example of a time when you used this and say how it benefitted the lesson.

Paragraph 2:

Identify the strength

Say why it is beneficial to your students or how it helps your teaching.

Give a specific example of a time when you used this and say how it benefitted the lesson.

Paragraph 3: Area to work on #1

Say why it would be beneficial for your students for you to work on this.

Give a specific example of a time when you saw a colleague or an experienced teacher do it well.

Say what you will do to improve this in the future.

Paragraph 4: REPEAT for AREA to work on #2

Paragraph 5: REPEAT for AREA to work on #3

Part B

Paragraph 6: Idea for Future development 1

Specify what it is and how it will enable you to develop into a better teacher.

Paragraph 7: Idea for Future development 2

Specify what it is and how it will enable you to develop into a better teacher.

Paragraph 8: Idea for Future development 3

Specify what it is and how it will enable you to develop into a better teacher.

There’s no need to write an introduction or a conclusion

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